137 metros leave you better off than Indianapolis

Accountant / auditor earning $77,500 in Indianapolis, IN. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $1,837 a month today.

Your best overall match

Midland, TX

+$864/mo (+$10,368 a year) versus Indianapolis

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Rent is priced at the bedroom count you need in each metro.

0

Suggested for your household.

What matters to you?

1 means leave it out of the ranking, 5 means it decides the ranking.

5 Deal-breaker

What is left after tax, rent and the month's bills.

2 A little

Sunshine, and summers and winters that are not extreme.

2 A little

Population and density, rather than small-town scale.

Every metro on the map

Coloured by this ranking. Click a dot for the city page; right-click or long-press to compare, set home, zoom or copy a link.

MidlandSeattleAustinBismarckFargoLexington ParkCedar RapidsAmarilloAppletonCheyenne
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $1,837/moDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best best fit: Midland, TX. Right-click or long-press for actions.

1

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,516 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,701

+$864 vs today

Local pay
$88,024
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$5,859/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
100
Sun and mild weather
78
Being in a big city
34
2

Seattle, WA

No state income tax and high wages, offset by home prices and 150 sunny days.

No state income taxCar optional

Left over monthly

$2,546

+$709 vs today

Local pay
$97,895
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$6,438/mo
Everything else
$2,131/mo
Money left over
94
Sun and mild weather
49
Being in a big city
82
3

Austin, TX

No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,431

+$594 vs today

Local pay
$84,842
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$5,673/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
89
Sun and mild weather
66
Being in a big city
80
4

Houston, TX

The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,428

+$591 vs today

Local pay
$83,211
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$5,577/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
89
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
5

Dallas, TX

No income tax, endless new construction, and a 1.5% property tax bill.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,313

+$476 vs today

Local pay
$83,211
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$5,577/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
6

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,298 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,639

+$802 vs today

Local pay
$82,884
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$5,526/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
98
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
7

Minot, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,132 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,638

+$801 vs today

Local pay
$80,600
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$5,396/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
97
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
8

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,049 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,553

+$716 vs today

Local pay
$77,255
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$5,205/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
94
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
9

Lexington Park, MD

State income tax topping out at 5.75%, a median 2-bedroom estimated asking rent of $1,896 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 35 minutes.

Left over monthly

$2,409

+$572 vs today

Local pay
$101,811
Rent (1br)
$1,593/mo
Take-home
$6,024/mo
Everything else
$2,022/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
39
10

Cedar Rapids, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,102 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,473

+$636 vs today

Local pay
$79,295
Rent (1br)
$926/mo
Take-home
$5,143/mo
Everything else
$1,744/mo
Money left over
91
Sun and mild weather
56
Being in a big city
41
11

Washington, DC

Recession-resistant government and consulting pay, humid summers, real transit.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$2,118

+$281 vs today

Local pay
$101,158
Rent (1br)
$1,929/mo
Take-home
$6,149/mo
Everything else
$2,102/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
86
12

Davenport, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,425

+$588 vs today

Local pay
$76,276
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$4,975/mo
Everything else
$1,806/mo
Money left over
89
Sun and mild weather
59
Being in a big city
42
13

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,398 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$2,370

+$533 vs today

Local pay
$80,682
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$5,429/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
14

Amarillo, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,017 and 260 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

No state income tax260 sunny days20-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,266

+$429 vs today

Local pay
$73,421
Rent (1br)
$854/mo
Take-home
$5,003/mo
Everything else
$1,883/mo
Money left over
83
Sun and mild weather
84
Being in a big city
37
15

Appleton, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,099 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,436

+$599 vs today

Local pay
$82,803
Rent (1br)
$923/mo
Take-home
$5,279/mo
Everything else
$1,920/mo
Money left over
89
Sun and mild weather
55
Being in a big city
38
16

San Antonio, TX

Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,166

+$329 vs today

Local pay
$75,868
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$5,147/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
79
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
17

Cheyenne, WY

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,219 and 253 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,352

+$515 vs today

Local pay
$79,947
Rent (1br)
$1,024/mo
Take-home
$5,386/mo
Everything else
$2,010/mo
Money left over
86
Sun and mild weather
69
Being in a big city
30
18

Jefferson City, MO

State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 217 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

22-min commute

Left over monthly

$2,284

+$447 vs today

Local pay
$74,074
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$4,829/mo
Everything else
$1,801/mo
Money left over
83
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
33
19

Beaumont, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,141 and 223 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,232

+$395 vs today

Local pay
$74,645
Rent (1br)
$958/mo
Take-home
$5,075/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
81
Sun and mild weather
74
Being in a big city
38
20

Memphis, TN

No income tax and a logistics economy; wages trail the national median.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$2,125

+$288 vs today

Local pay
$74,237
Rent (1br)
$1,058/mo
Take-home
$5,051/mo
Everything else
$1,868/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
58
Show the remaining 367 metros

Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated.